Sexual Harassment Policy

AB 537, the California Student Safety and
Violence Prevention Act of 2000, changed California's Education Code by
adding actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity to the
existing nondiscrimination policy. The state defines "gender" as "a
person's actual sex or perceived sex and includes a person's perceived
identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that identity,
appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated
with a person's sex at birth." The nondiscrimination policy also
prohibits harassment and discrimination on the basis of sex, ethnic
group identification, race, ancestry, national origin, religion, color,
or mental or physical disability.

Sequoia High School and the Sequoia Union High School District
Governing Board (SUHSD) are committed to maintaining a learning
environment which is free of harassment. The SUHSD Board prohibits the
unlawful sexual harassment of any student by any employee, student, or
any other person at the Sequoia High School campus or any school-related
activity.

The superintendent or designee shall ensure that students receive
age-appropriate information related to sexual harassment. Students will
be assured that they need not endure any form of sexual misconduct or
communication, including harassment, because of their sexual
orientation. They shall further be assured that they need not endure,
for any reason, harassment that impairs the educational environment or a
student's emotional well being while at school. Students who believe
they are the victims of harassment should seek a Sequoia High School
staff person who will immediately refer the matter to the principal.

Reports of harassment can be filed with an Incident Form for Complaints of Harassment,
which can be obtained in the vice principals' office, the nurse's
office, or the guidance department. Reports can also be made to any
Sequoia High School staff member, who will document and report the
incident to the principal or principal's designee within twenty-four
(24) hours of receiving the initial report.

Prompt action will be taken to remedy the situation once the incident
has been submitted to Sequoia's principal for investigation.
(education code 212.6).

Any student who engages in sexual harassment of anyone at school or
at a school-related activity shall be subject to disciplinary action, up
to and including expulsion. (cf. 5144.4)

The SUHSD prohibits retaliatory behavior against the person filing
the complaint or any participant in the complaint process. Information
related to a complaint of sexual harassment shall be confidential to the
extent possible, and the individuals involved in the investigation of a
complaint shall not discuss related information outside of the
investigation process.

This policy is in compliance with SUHSD Board Policy 5145.7(a), Education Codes 212.6 and 48900.2.

Sexual Harassment is a serious offense. Students who are found to
have committed sexual harassment may be suspended, or expelled, from
Sequoia High School.

48900.2. In addition to the reasons specified in Section 48900, a
pupil may be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion if
the superintendent or the principal of the school in which the pupil
is enrolled determines that the pupil has committed sexual harassment
as defined in Section 212.5.